Match Preview: Fleetwood Town vs Oxford City
Oxford City will be looking to produce an FA Cup shock on Saturday against Sky Bet League One side Fleetwood Town.
COUNTDOWN TO KICK-OFF
Oxford City will be looking to produce an FA Cup Giant-killing when they travel to Fleetwood Town on Saturday.
Manager Ross Jenkins will be pleased to welcome back captain Reece Fleet as he returns from suspension after missing Tuesday's win over Hungerford Town
However, Fleetwood will most likely be without defender Shaun Rooney, who left the field on a stretcher in Tuesday's 1-1 draw with Oxford United.
LAST TIME OUT:
This is the first time the two teams have met in the competition but City are no strangers to Round 1 upsets. Colchester United, Tranmere Rovers and Northampton Town were all on the end of a City cup shock in recent years and Ross Jenkins' side will be looking to etch another memorable cup tie into the history books.
FORM:
FLEETWOOD TOWN
Form: DLDWD
It's been a difficult period for the Cod Army in League One. Saturday's 3-0 win over Lancashire rivals Accrington Stanley was Town's first win since the beginning of October. However, despite that, Scott Brown's side have been a tough nut to crack.
The Cod Army have picked up impressive points against Derby County and Portsmouth as well as beating table topper's Plymouth Argyle back in August. Ex-City loanee Gatlin O'Donkor denied Brown's side all three points at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night, a victory that would've taken them into the top half of the table.
OXFORD CITY
Form: WWWLW
After navigating through a sticky spell in Vanarama National League South, City have hit an impressive run of form.
Tuesday's 2-0 win over Hungerford Town was the perfect response to a disappointing defeat to Farnborough, especially with three academy graduates featuring in the game.
Wins against Taunton and Havant & Waterlooville has lifted City to within one place of the play-offs, alongside FA Cup wins against Salisbury, Plymouth Parkway and Hornchurch.
ONE TO WATCH: Carlos Mendes-Gomes
Mendes is one of League One's brightest talents. The versatile attacker joined the Cod Army on loan from Championship side Luton Town but is well accustomed to the EFL.
The midfielder, who can represent Spain or Senegal internationally, was part of Atletico Madrid's U15's side before Carlos and his family moved to the UK.
He made his name at Morecambe where he starred in Derek Adams' promotion winning side in 2021, scoring the winning penalty at Wembley in the play-off final. He made the move to the Hatters on the back of that promotion before being sent to Highbury on loan.
A second minute bicycle kick at the Kassam Stadium on Tuesday night showed the crowd what he was all about, and City will have to be at their best to keep him under wraps on Saturday.
THE GAFFER'S THOUGHTS: ROSS JENKINS
“Fleetwood are a very good team, you can look at the league table, form and other factors but they’re very strong, organised, fit and they work very hard. It’s going to be a real test.
“Everyone at the club is looking forward to it. We’ve got to appreciate that the level they’re at is a lot higher than where we are and we’ll have to be at our absolute maximum to get anything from the game.”
Read more from the gaffer HERE!
TICKETS:
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